About the Coaching Staff

Joanne Kutzler has been the Head Coach of the Synchronettes since its formation in 1999. Previously Joanne served as the Head Coach for the Varsity Synchro Team at Carleton College for 10 years and was the University of Minnesota Synchro Club Head Coach, a St. Louis Park High School Varsity team coach, and the Bloomington High School Head Coach where the team tied for 1st overall at the Minnesota State HS Championships.

In 2005 Joanne received the Developmental Coach of the Year Award from the USSS National Governing Board and was also inducted into the St. Louis Park Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2006 she was elected to the USSS Board of Directors, the 12 member governing body for the sport of synchronized swimming in the United States. She is a USSS National level figure judge, a Regional routine judge, and a USSS Level 3 certified coach. She was elected as the USSS Minnesota Association Officials Chair for four years, the Association's Technical Chair for four years, and was once again elected as the Officials' Chair. Joanne served as the North Zone's Secretary for two terms and recently received the 2016 North Zone Coaches Award.

Joanne is a two time bronze medalist at U.S. Senior Nationals and a former team member of the California Santa Clara Aquamaids, a top national synchronized swimming club that produces swimmers for U.S. National and Olympic teams. Before moving to California to compete with the Santa Clara Aquamaids, Joanne was a former bronze medal soloist at U.S. Junior Nationals and a nine time gold medalist at the Minnesota State Championships. More recently she medaled 15 times as a U.S. National Masters Champion.

Joanne continues her professional development by attending numerous training programs including the annual national Coaches College at the Olympic Training Center, the All Star Camps (2008, 2010-2012, 2013-2015), Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College (2002-2009), national judges' updates every four years, and the annual USSS convention. Joanne holds a JD law degree from Southwestern University and a Doctorate of Public Administration and Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

Joanne leads the following dedicated assistant coaches, who are also committed to excellence.

Bonnie Buxton competed and medaled at the high school and collegiate level and now competes with the masters Minnesota Northern Pikes. She is over a 30-time medalist at the U.S. National Masters Championships since 1995. She is a USSS 2F judge, a rating that qualifies her to judge figures at the Minnesota Association level and a USSS Level 2 certified coach. She attended the Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College 2003 through 2005. She joined the Synchronettes coaching staff in 2000. Bonnie has a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Currently she is a retired medical technician and has her own dog grooming business.

Kirsten Boeder joined MNS in 2009 to assist in coaching after returning to the Twin Cities with her BA from the University of Wisconsin/Madison with a double major in Italian and the Biological Aspects of Conservation with a minor in Environmental Studies. Kirsten was a three time national finalist while competing as a Synchronette for four years and Hopkins for six years. More recently she has joined the masters Minnesota Northern Pikes. She is a USSS Level 2F judge and a USSS Level 3 certified coach. Kirsten brings excellent leadership skills and teaching ability plus enjoys choreography and assisting younger athletes in their quest to learn and perfect their skills.

Emily Heckmann. We are happy to have Emily join the Synchronettes coaching staff this year. She coached for the last 4 years with Twin Cities Synchro and has been coaching the Edina High School team for the last 10 years. She was awarded High School Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015. She competed in high school synchro for Stillwater High School for four years and was a State champion in both the trio and team events. She is a USSS Level 2F judge and a USSS Level 3 certified coach. Emily graduated from Hamline University and is currently a special education paraprofessional in Edina.

Claudia Parliament has been an assistant MNS coach since 2001. She competed at the high school and collegiate level and now competes with the Minnesota Northern Pikes Masters Team. She was a three time gold medalist at the State Championships and over a 30-time medalist at U.S. National Master Championships since 1995. Claudia is currently a USSS 2F and 2R judge that allows her to judge figures and routines at the regional level. She is USSS Level 2 certified judge. She attended the Santa Clara Aquamaids Coaches College 2003 through 2005. Interests include hiking, kayaking, traveling, and book reading. Claudia holds a Ph.D. in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and is currently a retired faculty member of Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota.